Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1887-12-15

farmers tariff profit. but a further
sum las been added for the profit
! Of the manufacturer under the operation or
there tiriff laws In the meantime the day
| arrives when the farmer finds IL necessary
30 purchase woolon goods and material to
clothe himself and family Tor the winter.
| When lie faces the tradesnan for that pur-
pose be discovers that he is obliged not only
| To return, In the way of increased prices, bis
| tariff pnotit on the wool be sold, and which
then perhaps lies before him in manufaet-
ured form, but that ne must a0d q consider
able sum thereto to meet a further increase
in cost caused by q tariff duty on the manu-
facture. Thus in the end he is aroused to
the FACT that he has PAD upon a moderate
purchase as a result of the tariff scheme.
which, when he sold his WOOL. seemed so
profitable,
Az INCREASE IN PRICE
more than sufficient to sweep away all the
tariff profit he received upon the wool he
producsd and sold When the number OF
farmers engaged in wool raising is compared
with ali the farmers in the country, and the
small proportion they bear to our popula-
ton ia considered; when it is made apparent
that, IN the case of a large part of those who
own sheep. the benefit of the present tariff
on wool is iliusory, and, above all. when it
must be conceded that the increase OF
the cost of living caused by such
tariff becomes q burden upon those
with moderate means and the poor, the
employed and unemployed, the sick and
\ well. ard the Young and old, and that IL con-
stitutes a tax which, with relentless grasp,
is fasteIied upon the clothing OF every man,
woman and child in the land. reasons ars
suggested why the removal or reduction OF
this duty should be included ia a revision OF
our tariff laws In speaking OF the increased
cost to the consumer of our home msnufact-
ures. resulting from a duty laid upon i'm
| Ported articles OF the same description, the
fact IL not overlooked that competition
among our domestic producers sometimes
has the effect of keeping the price of their
products below the highest limit allowed by
such duty. But il Is notorious that this COM
petition Is too often strangled by comnfna-
lions quite prevalent at this time, and fire.
Quently called trusts. which have for their
object The regulation of the supply and price
OF commodities made and sold BY member
of the combination. The people can barely
hope for any consideration in the operation
of these selfish schemes III. however, IN
the absence of such combinations, G healthy
and free competition reduces the price Of
any particular dutiahie article Of home pro-
duction, below the limit which ii might 9TH
erwise reach under our tariff laws. and If.
with sueh reduced price, its manufacture
continue to thrive, IL is entirely evident
that one thing has been discovered which
| should be carefully scruliniEed in an effort
TO reduce axition- The necessity of COM
bination TO maintain the price of any CONF
modify to the tariff point furnishes proof
that some one is willing to accept lower
prices for such commodity, and that such
prices ARE remuuerative; and lower prices
produced by competition prove the same
thing. Thus where either of these condi-
| tons exist n case would seem to be pre-
sented for en- easy reduction of taxation Tho
considerations which have been presented
touching our tariff laws ara intended only 20
enforce an earnest Recommendation that the
surplus revenue OF the government be pre-
1 vented BY the
REDUCTION OF U CUSTOMS DUTIES.
and at the same time, to emphasize a sug-
gestion that IN accomplishing this purp<
We may discharge n dof3ble duty TO our peo-
| pie by granting TO them a measure of relief
fronl tariff taxation IN quarters where it is
most needed and from sources where e. can
be most fairly and justly accorded Nor can
the presentation made of such consider
atoms lie, with any degree of fairness, re-
| garded as evidence of unfriendliDess toward
onr manufacturing interests. or of any lack
of appreciation of their value and i'm
portanee. These inter ests constitute a lead
ing ano most substantial element of our ma
i tioRal greatness ans furnish the proud proof
OF our country's progress But II in tho
| emergency that presses upon us our manu-.
facturers are are asked to surrender some
thing for the public good and TO avert dis
aster, their patriotism, as well as q grateful
recognition of advantages already afforded,
should lead them to willing cooperation.
~ &AAtAAA 70 AAAa AAAaA AAA[N GasAAAA "a = " 80
the Dement'S of the governmental regard,
but they cannot fail 90 be admonished OF
their daty, as well as their enlightened self
interest aud safety, when they are reminded
of the fact that financial panic and collapse.
TO which the present condition tends, afford
no gTenter shelter or projection to our manu-
facturers than our other important enter
priseS Opportunity for safe, careful, and
deliberate reform is now offered; and none
OF us should be unmindful of q time when
80 olr,aa1 aw1 N--sNnNAl a.~En AA{tAr -
those who have resisted timely and reason
able relief, may insist upon a radical and
sweeping recufication OF their wrongs
The difficulty attending n wise and
fair revision of our tariff laws is
not under estimated II will re-
quire on the Part of the congress great labar
and care, and especially a broad and lido
contemplation of the subject, and q patriotic
disregard of such local and selfish claims as
are unreasonable and regardless Of the well
fare Of the entire country. Under onr presl
ent laws more tnan four thousand articles
are subject to duty. Many of these DO not
in any way compare with our own manu1
actures and many are hardly worth atten.
tion at, subjects of revenue. A considerable
reduction can be made in the aggregate by
ADDING THEM TO THE FREE IIsr.
The taxation of luxuries presents no feat
ures of hardship; bat the pecessaries Of life
used and consumed by all people, the duty
upon which adds to the cost of living in
every home. should be greatly cheapened
The radical reduction of the duties imposed
uDon raw material used in manufactures, or
It's free importation, is, of course. an im-
portaTlt factor in any effort to reduce the
price OF these necessaries: II would not only
relieyts them from the increased cost caused
by the tariff on such material, but the man
ufactIlred product being thus ~cheaDened that
part OF the thrift now laid upon such product
as compensation TO cur manufacturers for
the Present price of raw material could
be accordingly modified Sucn reduc-
ton, or free importation, would serve
beside, to largely reduce the revenue. Ii is
not apparent how such a change can have
any Injurious effect upon our manufacturers
On the contrary 10 would appear to give them
a better chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers Of other countries, who
cheaper their ware with free material. Thus
our psopie might have the opportunity of
extending their sales beyond home con-
sumption. saving them from the depression,
interruption in business, and loss caused by
glutttd domestic market and afferding their
employees more certain and steady labor,
/ with It's resulting quiet and contentment
The question thus impsratively presented
for solution should be approached in q
spirit higher than partisanship, and consid-
cred in the light of that regard for patriotic
duty which should characterize the action
of THOSE inttusted with the veal OF a consid-
ing people. But the obligation TO declared
party policy and principle is not wanting to
urge prompt and effective action. Both of
| the great political parties now represented
in the government have, by repeated and
authoritative declarations, condemned
The condition of laws which Permit
the collection from the people of uu.
necessary revenue and have, in the most
solemn manner promised its correction; and
neither a. citizens nor partisans are our
euuntIymen in a mood TO condone the de
liber;rte violation of these pledges Our
progress toward a wise conclusion will not
be improved by dwelling upon the theories
of protection and free trade. This sayoFs
too ninch of bandying epithets 1t is a con-
ditioia which confronts US, not a theory.
Relief from this condition may involve a
slight reduction of the advantages which we
award our home productions, but the entire
withdrawal of uch advantages should not
be contemplated.
THE QUESTION OF FREE TRADE
is absolutely irrelevant. and the persistent
claim made in certain quarters that all
efforts 10 save the people from unjust and
u NECESSARY taxation are schemes of So
called free traders, is mischieyous and far
removed from any consideration for the
public good The simple and plain duty
which we owe the people Is to reduce taxa
ton TO the necessary expense of an conom-
ical operation Of the government ana to re-
stoct TO the usine of the country the
money which we hold in the treasury
throngh the perversion of governmental
powers These things can and shout be
don't with safety TO ali our industries. with
out danger 20 the opportunity for femun-
eratye labor which our workingmen need
and with benefit To them and all our people.
by ~cheapening their means of subsistence
ana increasing the measure OF their COM
Forts The constitution provides that the
president shall. from time to time, give 70